Mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer, caused by exposure to asbestos has four stages. Asbestos is a naturally occurring silicate material and it is extremely harmful to breathe in. Because of its long latency period, it may take decades after inhaling asbestos for someone to be diagnosed with cancer such as mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that affects the mesothelium and causes the growth of tumors. There are four stages of pleural mesothelioma, which is the most common type of mesothelioma, affecting about 75% of patients, and it is important to be aware of them if you are diagnosed with this cancer.
Stage 1
During stage 1, the cancer is localized, meaning it has not spread to other areas of the body. At this point, the tumors do not cause pain or breathing problems as they are still so small. Patients that are in stage 1 have the most treatment options as the cancer is still in one place. During this stage, it is possible for the tumor to spread from the lung’s outer lining to the inner lining. Curative treatments such as radiation therapy, surgery and chemotherapy are all possible during this stage.
Stage 2
During stage 2, although the cancer is still localized, it may have spread to the lung or the chest, diaphragm or lymph nodes. Patients can still have curative treatments, just like in stage 1. It is relatively rare for symptoms to occur during this stage.
Stage 3
When a patient has stage 3 pleural mesothelioma, this means that the cancer has spread throughout one side of the body to organs, tissues and lymph nodes. People are normally diagnosed during this stage because of symptoms such as difficulty breathing or chest pains. At this point, most patients are not eligible for surgery but can receive immunotherapy, chemotherapy or palliative care.
Stage 4
During stage 4 pleural mesothelioma, the cancer has spread to other parts of the body from where it originated. Most patients who have stage 4 mesothelioma are not eligible for surgery, but palliative procedures are available that ease symptoms and improve overall quality of life.
The different stages of pleural mesothelioma are determined through biopsies and imaging tests. The scans used for diagnosis can include a CT scan, which generates x-ray images of the chest. CT scans are used to see whether the cancer has spread to the diaphragm or the chest wall. Another type of testing is an MRI. Magnetic resonance imaging is used to see if the cancer has spread from the pleura to nearby organs, the chest wall or the lining of the heart. A PET scan is used to find out if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body such as the lymph nodes.
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